Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Quench \Quench\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Quenched}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Quenching}.] [OE. quenchen, AS. cwencan in [=a]cwencan, to
   extinguish utterly, causative of cwincan, [=a]cwincan, to
   decrease, disappear; cf. AS. cw[=i]nan, [=a]cw[=i]nan, to
   waste or dwindle away.]
   1. To extinguish; to overwhelm; to make an end of; -- said of
      flame and fire, of things burning, and figuratively of
      sensations and emotions; as, to quench flame; to quench a
      candle; to quench thirst, love, hate, etc.

            Ere our blood shall quench that fire. --Shak.

            The supposition of the lady's death Will quench the
            wonder of her infamy.                 --Shak.

   2. To cool suddenly, as heated steel, in tempering.

   Syn: To extinguish; still; stifle; allay; cool; check.

Source : WordNet®

quenching
     n : the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning; "the
         extinction of the lights" [syn: {extinction}, {extinguishing}]